CENTRE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING - CHRISTIAN STUDIES

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

None

Notes

This course will not be available in session 2008/09 as KL 100H.

Overview

The course will consider the range of criticisms advanced against the central elements of Christian belief from the Enlightenment to the present day. Attention will be devoted to criticism of the traditional arguments for the existence of God, historical scepticism, miracles, the problem of evil, the Marxist and Freudian challenges, and the secularisation thesis. Tutorials will study recent attempts to re-articulate belief in light of these challenges faced.

Structure

Audio-conferenced fortnightly tutorials in addition to private study with learning support materials.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: 3 essays of 2000 words each (33.3% each).

Resit: In-course assessment: 3 essays of 2000 words each (33.3% each).

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

None

Notes

This course will be available in 2008/09 as KL 1507.

Overview

The course will consider the study of the life and teaching of Jesus within his first century historical context. It will attempt to shed light on the many questions that arise from the gospels' presentation of Jesus' teaching and activity. It will ask how much we can really know of the course of Jesus' life; what he meant by "the kingdom of God"; whether he regarded himself as the "Messiah"; and why he ran into such opposition. Material from outside the New Testament will be used to construct a fuller picture of the broad historical and cultural context of Jesus' ministry.

Structure

Tutorials will be replaced by a Course Workbook; there will be 6 audio-conferences of 1.5 hours each. Also available on the web.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: 3 essays of 2,000 words each (33.3% each).

Resit: In-course assessment: 3 essays of 2,000 words each (33.3% each).

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

None.

Overview

This course will introduce students to the distinctive features of Jesus' teaching. It will by examine the main theological themes in each of the four gospels and the theology of Paul Paul's theology will be considered from two perspectives; the theology of his mission to the gentiles and his understanding of the cross and resurrection.

Structure

One 1½ hour audio-conferenced seminer per fortnight.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment (100%): 3 equally weighted essays of 2,000 words each.

Resit: In-course assessment: 3 new equally weighted essays of 2,000 words each.

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

None

Notes

This course will be available in 2008/09.

Overview

The course will consider each of the main titles used in the New Testament to designate the nature and identity of Jesus: Messiah, Son of David, Son of God, Son of Man, Logos, and Word.

Structure

Fortnightly audio-conferenced tutorials with a Course Workbook.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: 2 essays of 1,500 words each (60%) and one end-of-course assignment of 2,500 words (40%).

Resit: In-course assessment: 2 essays of 1,500 words each (60%) and one end-of-course assignment of 2,500 words (40%).

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

None, but it will be an advantage to have taken KL 10/1504.

Notes

This course will be available in session 2008/09 as KL 101D.

Overview

This course is an introduction to the study of Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism followed by comparisons and contrasts between the worships, doctrines and life-styles of these faiths and Christianity.

Structure

Fortnightly seminars in addition to private study with learning support materials.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: 2 essays of 1,500 words each (60%) and end-of-course assignment (40%).

Resit: In-course assessment: 2 essays of 1,500 words each (60%) and end-of-course assignment (40%).

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

None.

Notes

This course is available in session 2008/09 as KL 151F.

Overview

The course includes: a survey of the history, geography and culture of ancient Israel; a study of the united monarchy and of the literature of the exilic and post-exilic periods.

Structure

Tutorials will be replaced by a Course Workbook; there will be 6 audio-conferences of 1.5 hours each.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: 3 essays of 2,000 words each (33.3% each).

Resit: In-course assessment: 3 essays of 2,000 words each (33.3% each).

Credit Points

10

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

Ecclesiastical Latin 1 covers chapters 1-20 of John F. Collins A Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin (Catholic University of America Press, 1985). In addition to introducing the most frequently encountered Ecclesiastical Latin words (vocabulary), these chapters introduce the five declensions of Latin nouns, indicative verbs in every tense, the Latin noun case system and common uses of each noun case.

Structure

1½ hour audio-conferenced seminar per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Weekly written exercises, equally weighted (60%) and 1 one-hour examination (40%).

Resit: 1 one-hour examination (100%).

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

This course will present the student with the disciplines of homiletics and the challenge of communicating the Gospel in the contemporary world. We will begin by looking at the sermons and rhetorical delivery in Scripture and will continue by discussing the development of the sermon from the Church Fathers to the present day. The use of scripture, themes and the liturgical year will also be discussed.

Structure

1½ hour audio-conferenced seminar per fortnight.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment: 3 equally weighted essays of 2,000 words each (100%).

Resit: In-course assessment: 3 new equally weighted essays of 2,000 words each (100%).

Credit Points

10

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

Ecclesiastical Latin 1.

Overview

Ecclesiastical Latin 2 covers chapters 21-35 of John F. Collins A Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin (Catholic University of America Press, 1985). In addition to introducing the students to more Latin words (vocabulary), these chapters cover more advanced aspects of Latin grammar/syntax such as subjunctive verbs, dependent clauses, comparative adjectives, participles, perhiphrastic constructions, and further uses for each noun case.

Structure

1½ hour audio-conferenced seminar per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Weekly written exercises, equally weighted (60%) and 1 one-hour examination (40%).

Resit: 1 one-hour examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

30 credit points at level one from the Christian Studies programme or equivalent.

Notes

This course is available in session 2008/09 as KL 2003.

Overview

This course will focus on John’s Gospel investigating the origins of the community which produced the Gospel, uncovering the distinctive Christology and ideas of salvation within it, and looking at the background to some of the best known images in the New Testament.

Structure

Six fortnightly audio-conferenced tutorials.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (40%) and 2 essays equally weighted (60%).

Resit: 1 two-hour examination (40%) and 2 essays equally weighted (60%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

Any Level 1 course on the Hebrew Bible.

Notes

This course will be available in session 2008/09 as KL 200G.

Overview

The course will consider Hebrew prophecy within its Israelite and Ancient Near East contexts and will survey the books of individual prophets with special studies of selected prophetic texts.

Structure

Six audio-conferenced seminar workshops with a Course Workbook.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (40%) and 2 essays equally weighted (60%).

Resit: 1 two-hour examination (40%) and 2 essays equally weighted (60%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

KL 150L or equivalent.

Notes

This course will be available in 2008/09 as KL 200K.

Overview

This course aims to build on the knowledge and experience of Hebrew grammar and translation to give confidence in reading a variety of Biblical texts in the original language. The course introduces students to the translation of Genesis 1-3 and of extracts from Wisdom and the liturgical Psalms.

Structure

Weekly audio-conferenced tutorials.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

KL 200K or equivalent

Notes

This course will be available in 2008/09 as KL 250L.

Overview

This course builds upon KL200K. It introduces students to the translation of a whole narrative book, Jonah 1-3, and of some prophetic literature, Amos 3-7.

The course will enable students to explore different writing genres, textual issues, and the theology of a selection of Hebrew Bible texts.

Structure

Weekly audio-conferenced tutorials.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

At least one course at level 1.

Notes

This course is available in session 2008/09.

Overview

Consideration of the human search for meaning, value and purpose in life; non-religious forms of the search; the social context of religious questions; characteristic religious questions; single questions and plural answers; child and adolescent questions of meaning; theories of the development of faith; structures for understanding religious questions; approaches to understanding the self and other people.

Structure

Fortnightly audio-conferenced seminar workshops with a Course Workbook.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (40%) and 2 essays equally weighted (60%).

Resit: 1 two-hour examination (40%) and 2 essays equally weighted (60%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

It is desirable that students taking this course should have a minimum of 60 credit points within the Programme. Where this is not the situation, please speak to the Programme Coordinator.

Notes

This course will not be available in 2008/09.

Overview

This course will give students an appreciation of the complexities of Ecumenism both in Scotland and in the wider world; a deeper understanding of their own traditions by examining the historical and other reasons which keep Christians apart; and a development of their critical and analytical skills.

Structure

Six fortnightly audio-conferenced tutorials.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (40%) and 2 essays equally weighted (60%).

Resit: 1 two-hour examination (40%) and 2 essays equally weighted (60%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

KL 1004 / KL 1504 Near Eastern Faiths or KL 100C / KL 150C Indian Religious Traditions.

Notes

This course will be available in 2008/09 as KL 250Q.

Overview

This course will examine what constitutes the traditional teaching of Islam, and will examine different understandings of Islamic cultures from different parts of the world. It will look closely at the issue of Islamophobia.

Structure

Six fortnightly audio-conferenced tutorials.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment (60%) and 1 two-hour written examination (40%).

Resit: Two essays (60%) and 1 two-hour written examination (40%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

KL 100R / KL 150R or equivalent.

Notes

This course will be available in session 2008/09.

Overview

Students will apply skills adopted in KL 10/150R to pre-determined case studies within the student's own ministry setting. Tutorial sessions will include debriefing case-study scenarios, discussing and assimilating family and congregational systems theory in light of the pastoral care movement, and coming to understand the distinctiveness of pastoral care vis-à-vis clinical counselling, as well as discovering when and how to refer a situation to the clinical care profession.

Structure

Six audio-conferenced tutorials of 90 minutes each.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 2 essays (50%) and a course project (50%). The latter will take the form of either field work with a particular congregation or community, as a piece of empirical research, or be a reflection on the literature alone.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

100 credit points in Christian Studies, of which 60 credit points must be at level 2 or above.

Overview

This course allows a student to do in-depth study in a specific area in divinity or religious studies agreed upon with his or her supervisor and approved by the Head of Divinity, History and Philosophy.

Each student will be assigned a supervisor, who will make available regular consultation times.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment (100%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

Only available to students in Programme Year 3 or 4.

Notes

This course will not be available in session 2008/09.

Overview

This course will provide students with the opportunity to read accounts of the lives of spiritually committed people. It will consider a wide range of spiritual autobiographies, journals and memoirs with the intention of developing an understanding of how social context and language mould experience. In addition the course will look at the ways in which God is perceived to intervene in people's lives and the responses that are made by those who perceive God as acting in their life. The course will be loosely chronological in the ordering of material but the emphasis will be on reading from a broad range of Christian material.

Structure

1 one-and-a-half hour audio-conferenced seminar per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination (40%) and two equally weighted 3,000 word essays (60%).

Resit: 1 three-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

Intermediate Hebrew Texts 1 or 2 or equivalent.

Overview

This course introduces students to the translation of selections of a prophetic text, Ezekiel, and selections of a narrative text, Joshua 1-4. It will enable students to explore the different writing genres, textual issues and theology of a selection of Hebrew Bible texts.

Students will be expected to prepare sections of text weekly for translation and comment in class.

Structure

1½ hour audio-conferenced seminar per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination (100%).

Resit: 1 three-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

100 credit points from Christian Studies programme or equivalent.

Notes

This course will be available in 2008/09.

Overview

A survey of leading theories of religion from the fields of anthropology, sociology, psychology, and religious studies. The main issues to be considered will be: what aspects of religion is each theory trying to explain; what aspects does the theory succeed in explaining; how does the theory reflect the discipline from which it comes?

Structure

1 one-and-a-half hour audio conferenced seminar per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (50%); one essay of 3,000 words (50%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

Intermediate Hebrew Texts 1 or 2 or equivalent.

Overview

This course introduces students to the translation of selections of a prophetic text, Jeremiah, and selections of a wisdom text, Qohelet. It will enable students to explore the different writing genres, textual issues and theology of a selection of Hebrew Bible texts.

Students will be expected to prepare sections of text weekly for translation and comment in class.

Structure

1½ hour audio-conferenced seminar per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination (100%).

Resit: 1 three-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

Evidence of ability to study at this level.

Notes

This course is designed for students who have completed a number of courses in the Christian Studies Programme, and who have shown in their essay work the capacity for independent study.

Overview

The dissertation topic must be approved as suitable by the academic co-ordinator for the Christian Studies Programme. Each candidate will have a supervisor to offer guidance and support throughout the dissertation course. It is envisaged that the dissertation topic will often have as its starting point some aspect of the material introduced in a taught course, but approved topics will not be restricted to this. A systematic introduction to working on dissertations will be provided.

Structure

Seminars and individual contact as and when required.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Dissertation (100%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4.

Notes

This course is not available in session 2008/09.

Overview

This course examines the radical changes, as well as the continuities, in Scottish religious life and thought between c1470 and the Covenanting revolution. Students will be introduced to a range of primary sources relating to the following topics: religious life and thought on the eve of the Reformation, Christian humanism, martyrdom, the privy kirks, poetry and drama in the service of reform, Catholic reformers and controversialists, the reformed confessions of faith, the establishment of a reformed ministry, fasting and communion seasons, poor relief and education, discipline and repentance, reformed piety, Episcopacy and Presbyterianism, theologies of resistance and obedience, the National Convenant and the Covenanting revolution.

Structure

Weekly audio-conferenced tutorials of 1 and 1/2 hours each.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour examination (50%) and in-course assessment (50%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

Only available to students in Programme Years 3 or 4.

Notes

This course is not available in 2008/09.

Overview

This course will offer students the opportunity to read widely in the late twentieth century literature which grapples with the conceptualisation of a Christian God in a secular world. The attempts of various writers to conceptualise the presence or absence of God will be discussed using insights from literary critics, philosophers and theologians.

Structure

1 one-and-a-half hour audio-conferenced seminar per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination (40%) and two equally weighted 3,000 word essays (60%).

Resit: 1 three-hour written examination (100%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

Only available to students in Programme Years 3 or 4.

Notes

This course will be available in session 2008/09.

Overview

A survey of eight leading theories of myth from the fields of anthropology, sociology, psychology, and religious studies. The focus will be on the differing answers the theories give to the questions of the origin, the function, and the subject matter of myth. Each theory will be applied to a familiar myth.

Structure

1 one-and-a-half hour audio-conferenced seminar per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (50%); one essay of 3,000 words (50%).

Resit: 1 two-hour examination (100%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr L Clayton

Pre-requisites

Only available to students in Programme Years 3 or 4.

Overview

The course is a contemporary analysis of the relationship of religion and politics in the context of western civilisation, in particular the UK and USA post 9/11. It will consider the recent scholarly approach to these subejcts, as indicated in the post 2001 literature which will be recommended for the course. Throughout the course Islamic and Western attitudes will be contrasted and will include analysis of the emergent fundamentalism in both traditions.

Structure

1½ hour audio-conferenced seminar per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination (40%) and two equally weighted 3,000 word essays (60%).

Resit: 1 three-hour written examination (100%).